TrustMark and Age UK tackle 'risk of rogues' with new directory
31st March 2015

A fifth of all older people are so afraid of ending up with rogue traders that they are leaving household jobs undone – or even tackling the work themselves – according to new research by TrustMark and Age UK.

The survey found that nearly a quarter (23%) don’t know where to find the right tradesman and, remarkably, only 2% of those questioned based their choice on whether a tradesman had the right qualifications.

Now, the two organisations have come together to create a new directory to combat the ‘risk of rogues’ that they say over-65s face by not checking a trader’s credentials. The resource, sited on the Age UK website, is aimed to give older people the confidence to find quality tradespeople and ‘choose from a selection of vetted traders in their area’.

TrustMark Chairman Liz Male said: “It’s a national embarrassment that any older person is put in this position, with fear and confusion about who they can let into their homes to do even the simplest of property repairs or home improvement projects. 

“TrustMark’s work with Age UK is driven by shared values around consumer protection. We are working together to encourage people in later life to undertake necessary work in their homes with confidence, armed with the right questions to ask and safe in the knowledge that they have the best of the nation’s trades men and women  working in their homes.”

 Age UK’s Head of Service Delivery, John Edwards, added: “Age UK provides advice on anything to do with getting older and information to help ensure older people make informed choices and get the support they need. Our work with TrustMark means we are able to offer an important resource for older homeowners looking for expert and trusted tradespeople.”

The resource can be found at www.ageuk.org.uk/trustmark